Cotton press



June 9, 1925.

1,541,288 F. A. SMITH COTTON PRESS Filed Nov. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1925. I 1,541,288

F. A. SMITH COTTON PRESS Filed Nov. 22. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ha /36 w"- lrman c'fl amzifi Patented June 9, i925.

UNITE STATES- ra a PATENT ,FFICE.

FERMAN A. SMITH, or COLEMAN, TEXAS.

COTTON PRESS.

Application filed November 22, 1924. Serial No. 751,675.

ments in cotton presses and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character wherein means are provided for lifting the doors of the press.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press consisting of double bale boxes arranged to swing upon a center post the upper portion of each of the boxes being provided with swinging doors together with means for lifting said doors so that the requisite swinging of the bale boxes from one position to the other may be obtained without hindrance or obstruction being offered by the doors.

The invention. consists in' the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cotton press whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is an elevational view illustrating the press having a door closing attachment applied thereto in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a center post interposed between a top beam 2 and a bottom beam or sill 3, said beams 2 and 3 being comprised in the stationary frame work of the press.

Supported by the center post, as at 4, for swinging movement therearound are the bale or press boxes B, the lower portion of each ofwhich being preferably made solid while the upper part is provided with the side doors 5 of a desired construction and which are adapted :to'be swung outward and downward to free a bale to permit its removal.

It is now the general practice to return the swinging doors to their raised or closed position by weighted members, operatively engaged therewith by suitably disposed ca bles which are hooked orotherwise attached to the doors before thebales are swung about the center post to change their positions. It frequently occurs that the pressman fails to properly hook the cables to the doors so that upon turning the bales the doors interfere with the requisite swinging movement of the boxes, necessitating the boxes being returned to the position whereby said flexible members may be hooked thereto. This materially interferes with the loaling operation and particularly to reduce the output.

As herein disclosed, I provide a novel and improved attachment for each of the doors 5 which comprises a pulley 6 supported for rotary movement by a trunnion or stub shaft 7 carried by a top girder 8 comprised in the top part of the lower portion of the box B. Secured to the peripheral portion of the pulley 6 is a flexible member 9, herein disclosed as a chain, said member or chain 9 extending downwardly and having its lower end portion fixed to an extremity of a coil spring 10. The opposite end portion of the spring 10 is anchored, as at 11, to a bracket 12 affixed to a bottom girder 14 of the lower portion of the box B.

Extending outwardly and substantially radialfrom thepulley 6 is an elongated arm 15 the outer end portion 16 of which being disposed on an inward incline so that the outer or free extremity of the arm 15 will overlap a side portion of the door 5. This free extremity of the arm 15 carries a roller 17 which has direct contact with the door 5. When a door 5 is swung outwardly and downwardly to free a bale compressed within the upper portion of the box B the adjacent arm 15 will also be forced downwardly resulting in the flexible'member or chain 9 being wound upon the pulley 6 and placing the spring 10 under tension and just as soon as the bale has been properly freed or released, the tension of the spring 10 will be suflicient to swing the arm 15 upwardly and return the door 5 to its closed position. By this means it will be noted that the door 5 is automatically raised or returned to its closed position and thus obviating the delay which would otherwise occur in the eventthepressman shouldoverlook' raising or'lifting such door in the inanner now generally in use.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a cotton press constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use by rea son of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, audit Will also be obviousthat my invention is susceptible'ot' some change and modificat'ion'without departing from the principies and spirit there'ofand for this reason I'do not Wislrtobe understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several. parts herein shown in carrying out-my invention in practice ex cepti'as'hereina'fter'claimed.

1; In a cotton press, the combination of a pressboxhaving aswinging side door,'an arm supported by t h e"b o'X for swinging movement and having contact with the door, and a spring engagged ivith 'the arm and placed under tension when the door is moved into open position to 'causesai'd' and arm to automatically swing the door in the opposite'direction."

2i iIna cotton press, the combination ofa pressbox having a hinged siderdoorg a pulley rotatab'ly supported by the boir, an outstanding arm carried by the pulley, the free extremity OtthQ a-rm overlapping the swinging door, a fle ziible inember attached to the pulley, and a spring attached to the flexible member and to the box, the door When moved into openposition swinging the arm and pulley to place the spring under tension to cause said spring to automatically move the door'in the opposite direction.

3.1m a cotton pi'ess,*the combination of a pressbox havinga hinged si'deldoor, a pulley rotatably supported by thebox,;an outstandingarm ear-meaty the pulley, the free extremity of the arm overlappihg the swinging door, a flexible member attached to the pulley, a spring attached to the'flexi hle member "and to the box, the door when II'IOVQCl into openposition sw'ingingthe arm and pulley to place the spring under ten sion to cause said spring toautomatically move the door in'the opposite direction, and a roller carried by the 'treeextremity of the arm tor direct contact with the door.

lntestimony uwhereof I hereunto afiilx' my signature.

"FERMANJAT S I Hg 

